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Everything posted by Drildo

I've been de-potting and planting things up in ground a lot lately, pretty much all cacti. Had some loads of soil delivered too for the landscaping.
I've noticed a lot of curl grubs in some of my pots as I depot them and am teasing out the roots.... I bin the soil and grubs when I find them.
Seeing small numbers of grubs in the fresh delivered soil also worries me a bit. Google tells me they are the larvae of the Christmas beetle... We get Christmas beetle here prolifically in summer.
Apparantly they don't like deep moist soil, dry top layer is where they lay there eggs. Google says they fuck sections of lawn easily, and can devastate pot plants.
I haven't noticed any huge reduction of growth or damage as a result (not that I'm hugely experienced). They shit me none the less...
Any stories of curl grubs from any SABers? are they a terrible menace, or relatively harmless?
Any decent organic methods of getting rid of them? Or even chemical methods that aren't too harmful to the cacti etc?

Thats all we're allowed to grow for these days, 'aesthetics' and your rare peru find (St Paul) is one of the loveliest looking Blue Peru's I've seen floating around. I will pay $1 per cm man, set its value at a decent standard from the beginning, charge other SABers what you wish, from me I will pay $1 per cm (for your effort & I am particularly attracted to it). I will PM you later on tonight anyway regarding the caccy mate, thank you!
Thank you for the kind words HD, means a lot. I'd rather write (speak) from the heart, I'm open with everyone about what I get up to. I get help when I need it and these days try to keep myself in-check somewhat and responsible with my indulgences along with straight up refusing to consume a certain class anymore (big for me).... Things are good nowadays mate, the garden is thriving, relations are improving, meeting new people, etc etc...
Time for some mycology now its getting cold, woot woot.
Mate, I'll upload some pix later on tonight. I've just gotten 24 immaculate pieces in-ground within the last 3ish months (last 8 went in a week ago). I'm frothing more than I've ever frothed before. Even more frothy than when I first discovered how clear the 'Internet History' as a wee young lad. Things are well and truly off their heads, when you see it you'll know I am not just decaying here like a leech on the system. I am doing epic things!
Cheers!
Expect some pix here in the next few hrs, and a PM from me later on tonight. Lots 'o LOVEEE
~Skel

^
Its been quickly brought to my attention that I maybe should not of posted her name & website etc for fear of her job being a government employee was the individuals concern.
She is in fact a private mental health contractor to my particular job agency (one of dozens available to choose from when u sign up for centrelink as a jobseeker). Her website is the face of her business, shes open and hands business cards out to every client and leaves them with the job agency. She only works for one, they love her, an employee of the agency recommended her as an onboard Councillor for this particular mob to have ondeck every Tuesday. Shes got a good contract, does good work, and is honest about what she does. She works in Aus most of the year and facilitates healing trips to Peru.
If any of my little ramble was not above board please scrub/edit it. But I think its OK - Her job is not at risk, if anything its like advertising (in the right place, right circles) for a mental health professional with her kind of perspective, probably what a lot of us need to be honest. Anyways scrub it if it needs scrubbing.
I'm ratshit & crashing out - its a heinous time of the morning. Peace out & good vibes to all.
~Skel.

Epic fucking competition and gorgeous new Peruvianus clone @Halcyon Daze
Congrats to; @Horus and to @freakazoid
^ Very lucky boys.
I was meaning to write a short story of my Centrelink debauchery, public wig outs, claims of heavy drug dependency and playing the game hardout. I do it all for the cactus, for the spare time to cultivate. My job providers ceased all job searching requirements at the start of the year shortly before I was due to enter into a 'work for the dole phase' whilst still injecting me with maximum dole money each week ever since. I just had to lose my shit in the office and start screaming like a spastic, and everything worked out.
I turned blue (an understatement) during new years celebrations snorting U47 (aka U-47700), It killed Prince back 2016 (was amoungst the cocktail he was on) & nearly me too early Jan this year. I've now got a script for Naloxone that I have not, nor will ever need to use I don't imagine. I haven't dabbled in that class of 'comforters' since my blue lipped eye opener at the start of the year. Got 5 months of Mirtazapine 30mg untouched too (a medical record if you will, that plus the nax = good on paper if you're trying to get written off). Anyway after this 20+ months of serious grubbery (all for the cactus mainly - but I do hate work & bosses) Centrelink have put me in contact with a free government subsidized drug and alcohol Councillor (psychologist?). Muriel spent a fucking decade in Peru under the guidance of a shaman training in the practice of Huachuma ceremonies mainly, and aya to a lesser degree also. Retrained in late life (her mid 40's) in psychology, then went to peru for a decade, and is back now helping turds like myself at the job provider office.
Anyway, I cant face her fuck-eyed (cooked/sizzled/whacked) any more, the guilt is overbearing, we share a genuine contact and froth together over garden photos. She wants to take me to Peru for medicine, she facilitates annual trips over there for interested/suffering punters looking for relief. She also sort of alludes to having facilities in Aus to provide the same thing, but definitely isn't 100% open with cenno referred 'loose-units' like myself... Anyway, the rort, the game, the bludge, its all coming undone, but in a good way though. All roads/arrows/indicators are telling me that I need to experience the caccy, sooner rather than later. IT'S CALLING ME! - IT'S WHAT I NEED!
Shes met Darpan and Julian Palmer, has links to EGA on her website (Suchhh a fkn trip out & small world & awesomely cool). The universe is trying to tell me something here I am getting the feeling.
''I need Brew, and I need Peru''. Heres her website: http://www.seekingselfhappiness.com.au/services-huachuma-consultancy.php
She probably even lurks on these forums. Trades as 'Huachuma Consultancy' aka 'Seeking self Happiness'. Does anyone know her or have heard of her, maybe from past EGA's?
Anyways, I'm glad I held off, my story wouldn't of won anyway, but I'd rather not put my hand out for more 'hand outs' these days, tax payers fund my free quality counselor's & pocket money. I'd rather pay if the possibility is open HD? I'm looking for 2 primo fattt "St Paul" tip cuts to start my collection if at all possible Hal? I will/can pay & pay handsomely (tis a gorgeous clone that I'd like to see many SABers start growing/propagating). Congrats on the once in a lifetime find mate & congrats again to the winners of this comp. Lucky lucky mongrels with awesome, funny, honest, clever and entertaining short tales. Has been a wicked thread. Stay safe & love your life. Practiced harm minimization always.
... And don't be afraid to lose your shit publicly sometimes.
Everything in moderation - even intoxicated belligerence every now and then
Kindest regards to all the readers,
~Skellum (The Southern Grub)
EDIT:
This is her, younger, and knackered after a night on the aya I think a bit airy. But shes good (for me at least). Again, it was centrelink who put me onto her for free and is promoting these kinds of thoughts/beliefs for current drug addicts. Maybe the whole systems bout to shift boys 'n girls. Maybe the plant teachers will get the recognition, the law reform and the scientific study that is so duly needed (one day lets hope...):

Two weeks or less and ill see how I'm going, Able.
I'd have to see family near Miami Beach (Goldcoast, QLD), and Grassy Head (Midnorthcoast, NSW) on the way through. So you driving your Van would be best, as to not hold u up. Maybe getting like 20-50litre plant bags and semi potting our shit up would see them better traveling too (providing rootstock is attached). We can dig together, I have performance enhancers for the day (should our host allow, and if I drive).
Probably touch base in Sydney on our way up. Drive separately. Stop at Grassy (my joint) if you need to piss and shit and eat and medicate, then continue north on our venture (another 5ish hrs).
I guess its free reign till then.
Epic fkn vines! good luck ladies and gents.
P.S. Three Brother Mountains (Acacia Courtii native microclimate) is on our way. A little bo-peed and a quick seed collection sesh might be cool?

Yeah bro (fully, fulllllly fucked...), entirely intolerable & totally unbearable, lol you must of been off your head...
Pick up some early NIN albums, melodic industrial, not just static interference, you can actually recognize the sounds of some real instruments in there.
Bro u should of signed a record deal deal with Bush, he could of played that to Iraqi PoW's on loop for weeks on end just to see what would happen, no water boarding needed.

Shizen! That is a rare offer!
Ah, some sense (good to see). Top tricho clones go for $2 per cm, not caapi.
But I guess its been nearly a decade since 09, much more caapi available nowadays at realistic prices (especially here on SAB).
I'm in the Shoalhaven (South coast NSW) - 13ish hrs drive south of you.
I'm tempted to drive to Sydney park at the airport, fly up, hire a ute in brissy, buy the plants, drive back to Sydney and dump the ute, load my own ute up and drive back down south. I have a 2 door hylux with a huge tray though, probably silly flying up and hiring a ute, i'd spend 4 hrs driving to sydney and 1 hour waiting for the plane, then an hour fucking around getting picked up at the other end/getting a hire car... Driving is probably not much more time consuming & likely cheaper $$ too. Hmm, going to be hard to orchestrate as I'm busy, hosting guests for the next 10 days. Some local will pick them up (the vines & others) for sure before then I reckon... Fkn spewing!
I'd be looking to grab the root mass of the 2x 10 year old Caapis + 6-8foot of attached vine, on every shooting limb growing from the root masses (dozen(s) feet per rootmass I estimate judging by photos). I want fatttt established plants I can plant down here (in a non ideal climate, compared to yours) so hopefully they can take off with some resilience and establish themselves, settle in & survive. I'd be looking for maybe a viridis bush or two as well, but dug up and chucked in the ute for 1-2 days, then brought down here into brutal cold, might just see them fail hard & perish, wasting my time? I think P.Nexus and P.Cartha are more cold resilient vs P.Viridis, from what I've head. I've got nice Courtii growing at the moment, so I am not entirely without.
Anyway I will keep an eye on this plant sale thread of yours over the next fortnight. And once my guests leave I will assess funds & seriously consider the pilgrimage up north if those two root masses haven't sold by then, I don't like my odds though. This is a great sale that will fly out the door I reckon. Hope the house sale/move goes well & your health improves sketchykid.
Make la medicina with your garden before u move & sell it all, maybe it will provide some much needed healing.
Kindest regards,
Skel.

^ Boi you're making my knickers sticky.
What is that munted unit - a TBM also? or no
EDIT: Guessing not a TBM spines & colour don't look right & the tip of the nuggets look different
Is that, the seed grown 1 ribbed 'skellum' from your gallery a few months back? noice.

What tricho do u see there SayN, is it just that TBM?
Is someone driving around actually bothering to enter a 3 segment TBM in a cactus expo/competition(?)... Christ... These clowns need the corroboree to come crash their next expo.
Looks pretty disappointing overall dude (not that id really know). Where the fuck was it held, Rooty Hill RSL(?) Looks like a budget venue, sporting an anti-climatic display.
I reckon more than half the cacti SABers could put on a better/more impressive show than that (maybe I'm being harsh). Is this a regular thing you go to, or a first & last time thing, lol?
I can't visibly ID your photos though (lack of knowledge), maybe they're rare as fuck... Some of them look like Bunnings Multicoloured graft specials (e.g. cheap n' nasty).
I'd take fat TBM bushes and huge tricho stands, crests and lophs anyday over those rock melon looking bulbous grafts entered there, I'm probably just somewhat ignorant, and bias toward what i like though.
Cheers for sharing though mate.

^ yes except the 2nd last row, which I think may of been something that was tested recently.
refer to his DNA testing of subs thread where they (he / pablo) found a 99% dna similarity to cyanscens in regards to the visually questionable specimens (2nd last row).
winter man.... jesus
i get a stiffy every year.

The bloke with the harry potter glasses is Australias most celebrated Criminal Defense Lawyer "Robert Richter".
Mick Gatto (after spending nearly a year and a half behind bars waiting for trial) has 'Richter' tattooed across his chest, his the murder charge was acquitted.
Pell... lol - good luck Richter.

Hey Sabers,
I am looking at buying some tricho cuts from a fella on eBay, heres the link: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Trichocereus-Pachanoi-Peruvianus-Pscho0-YOWIE-San-Pedro-Cactus-Cuttings/302729461111?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=601596245797&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
Anyway, he proposes to take the cuts, use a heat gun to quick-dry them, then mail same day. Basically just using the heat gun to get them safe for postage, not a speed-callous or anything so they can be potted up faster. Nothing like that. Simply to dry them so they're safe for shipping same day. Once I receive the cuts I will allow them to air dry/callous naturally over another 10-14 days before potting up.
Just wondering;
- Is this a bad idea?
- Will exposing the bare open flesh to (dry fan forced) heat induce rotting vs callousing and potentially fuck the flesh at all?
- Anyone see any issues with this, should I tell him to hold onto them for an extra week before mailing (maybe inconvenient for him), or should this method be OK? Thoughts?
Again its just for postage & not so they can be potted up any quicker. Once received they will be left for another fortnight for further drying before potting up. The seller packs well, using only paper and cardboard and packing peanuts (breathable and somewhat desiccating), no plastic anywhere. Have had two orders in the last fortnight and they were perfectly packaged, but rooted plants (TBM's).

^ I told him to use sulfur, I don't think he has any on hand and seems to think this method works and has had some sales in the last week with happy customers it looks, sending via this method.
I'll let him know go easy on the heat etc... There's actually heat settings on most heat guns, even setting to blow cool air, not heated air... They're like glorified hair driers man.
I'll tell him to go easy on the heat anyway if hes gonna go that route. Cheers Inyan.
No other horror stories from anyone involving accidentially cooking their cactus doing anything like this? lol

^ I dont know how easy you think it is to import internationally into Australia (literally one of the hardest). Especially kilograms of organic matter from where? Likely 'The Americas' (HOT HOT HOT area).
If you are successfully importing kilograms of organic matter, you'd make sure its benign powder containing at least 80% of one of the following things: (heroin, ice, cocaine, mdma, ketamine etc etc) not some suspect bags of green shit containing 1% mescaline. Hes flogging the KG's for cheap too, you wouldn't risk lengthy imprisonment for a couple hundred dollars a KG, for your kilos you'd be wanting to make a couple hundred thousand. Its not like customs are going to find it, and read the label 'incense' and allow it in. Its plant matter from OS... No easier or less scrutinized to import than a brick of chaz, harder in fact, would take up more space as its less dense. Maybe unless they figure out its mescal containing though the consequences would be much less severe.
It could be Aussie Gardeners, not importing (not breaking the law), and not ingesting (swallowing) anything from the cactus. Material grown domestically (like tanning barks) sold for purposes other than propagation or consumption, e.g. incense and tanning/dyes, meat smoking. If this were true it'd mean what was for sale would be known ethical grown & harvested (no wild outcrops anywhere in aus) vs these barks going around that could be potentially raped from the wild, even though they all try to tell you the trees are plantation harvested.
I wouldn't say its an international importer.
- It might be a scammer selling powdered cereus as powdered loph.
- It could be also a scammer taking your payment, and ordering from an international seller to your doorstep, and when you get a knock from customs/AFP then its your issue, not his...
- It could be a legit Aussie Tricho grower growing for incense production, maybe hes trying to pass powdered TBM as powdered LOPH, who knows? The chips look like chips, I doubt the peyote would be in full/sliced dried form though, that one is nearly too good to be true.
Is the production and trade of trichocereus/cactus based incenses, made domestically still illegal?
Is it considered a 'preparation' therefore illegal? Even if human consumption of this 'preparation' was never the intention?

I guess given the circumstances then a first name wouldn't be entirely terrible or a breach of security too badly. But that is just my opinion mate and I don't speak for the whole of SAB. I will PM you now, tell me their first name and I'll let u know if anyone I know shares that first name, and will run it by another friend of mine whos been balls deep in the scene for a decade+
SA and especially VIC seem to have a super strong cactus fraternity going on. You may find who you're looking for.